Daughter diagnosed with ASPD

Hi,

I have read the DSM IV on ASPD. My daughter is 20, She is in recovery for heroin. Clean 5 months. At 15 1/2 she was in rehab and clean for 1 1/2 hears.

She also has ADD ( not hyper) and epilepsy.

Her therapist ( I'm not sure of the credentials but I will get them) says she is ASPD. None of the criteria applied to her until after age 14 (when she started using). The only criteria that I see that applies to her comes from the

Factor 2: Socially deviant lifestyle

Need for stimulation/proneness to boredom (boredom)
Parasitic lifestyle (when using)
Poor behavioral controls
Lack of realistic, long-term goals
Impulsivity
Irresponsibility
Juvenile delinquency (using drugs, stealing to buy drugs)

She has never been incarcerated because she never got caught.

During the time she was clean she got her GED and started college.

I don't quite agree with the diagnosis. She has none of the traits of Factor 1 and never has. She never had problems in school etc...

Some of the traits of Factor 2 are equivalent to ADD.

I'd appreciate any input. Reason being because her self esteem is already low enough. Not like we all need alot of self esteem to get through life But she has enough to carry around as it is and I feel that she is getting nothing but labeled. Plus we are paying a pretty penny for the rehab.

Thanks,

Naomi

I agree that some of those things overlap with ADHD...

Also, you can look at some of it as a matter of temperament rather than (or in addition to) disorder. I prefer looking at these sort of problems as first and foremost, certain traits are present, and then they end up being expressed in problematic ways.

In particular, one trait that has been studied a lot is called "novelty-seeking", and it's significantly more common in ADHD, substance use, risky activities in general, and also ASPD.

I have this novelty-seeking trait in extreme form, and I've been studying all sorts of research related to it (among other things).

Check out this description: http://psychobiology.wustl.edu/TCI/noveltySeeking.htm

You'll notice a lot of overlap with the list you presented, just like it has a lot of overlap with ADHD problems.

For ASPD, a key characteristic is usually an incapacity for empathy or remorse. I think ADHD often involves a deficit in those things (i.e., disregarding rules without any remorse) but not an incapacity.

Anyway, these categories are somewhat arbitrarily defined, so it's somewhat more helpful to look at the collection of problems, strengths, and traits, especially when a diagnosis only partly fits.

I also have inattentive ADHD. I had problems in school, which I thought was a waste of time (it was ), but I got a GED at 16, and started college early. I've had ups and downs since then, but I'm figuring out how to deal with my traits.

I'm now back in college (after difficulties and time out) majoring in psychology. I'm studying a lot of things related to this; I find it fascinating, and necessary in order for me to live effectively.

Hope that helps, I'm happy to discuss it more.

The main question is, does she have a conscience? Does she experience rather than feign human emotion? There are plenty other doctors who would give her different diagnoses. Don't hang on the words of one.

Hi Naomi,
I have a son with antisocial personality from a prior marriage and a husband with antisocial personality. I dont think your daughter should have been diagnosed with aspd while she was on drugs because drug abuse causes antisocial like symptoms. My son takes oxcycontin and he is always in trouble whether under the influence or not. Before age 15 he was arrested four times. It is very difficult to do but your daughter might need a residence sober house to work on her addiction. I wish you luck.
Sincerely, Nikki